By Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/04/2010 06:56:55 PM PST

COLTON – In another move aimed at finding permanent spending cuts, the City Council this week approved an audit that will examine savings that could come from dissolving the city Police Department and contracting with an outside agency for police services.

A $99,790 contract has been awarded to San Francisco-based auditor Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC to find ways to cut police costs.

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10:00 PM PST on Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Press-Enterprise

Three candidates — two current and one former prosecutor — have filed papers to run for a Riverside County Superior Court judgeship. Superior Court Judge Robert McIntyre is retiring.

The election is in June. Judges serve six-year terms.

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Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 03/04/2010 08:48:00 PM PST

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Smoking and waiting in lines do not mix, according to the City Council, which gave initial approval on Wednesday to an ordinance that prohibits tobacco use in transit stops and outdoor service lines.

The ordinance, expected to go into effect mid-April, will prohibit smoking within 20 feet of bus stops, train stations and lines for services such as ATMs and theaters.

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Rallies and walkouts are largely peaceful, but 150 are arrested in Oakland as a freeway is blocked. The demonstrations are part of a nationwide ‘Day of Action for Public Education.’

By Carla Rivera and Nicole Santa Cruz and Larry Gordon

March 5, 2010

A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to mostly peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation. In Oakland, however, about 150 protesters were arrested after they blocked a freeway, snarling rush-hour traffic.

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Karen Bass

By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Mar. 4, 2010 – 4:55 pm

Former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass quietly promoted 20 members of her Democratic caucus staff and gave them 10 percent salary increases that took effect her final days as Assembly leader.

Along with higher pay, staff members received different job titles, reflecting perhaps a change in duties, Assembly records show.

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Steve Poizner

By Jack Chang
jchang@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Mar. 5, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner said Thursday that he has rethought his decade-old support for Proposition 39, which lowered the vote threshold to pass school bonds.

The insurance commissioner said he had given nearly $200,000 to the successful campaign to pass the initiative because it had required charter schools be given access to facilities equal to other public schools.

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BY CHRISTINE BEDELL, Californian government editor
cbedell@bakersfield.com | Thursday, Mar 04 2010 03:20 PM

Last Updated Thursday, Mar 04 2010 07:54 PM

The sexual orientation and voting record of state Sen. Roy Ashburn exploded into national news Thursday, the day after he was arrested on misdemeanor drunk driving charges in Sacramento.

Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, did not return calls again Thursday seeking an explanation of the events leading up to his arrest and the Sacramento television report that launched nationwide speculation that the veteran lawmaker is gay and therefore a hypocrite for voting against gay-rights bills.

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By Ed Mendel

The CalSTRS board may cut its investment earnings forecast, a small move that could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the current $4 billion annual shortfall needed for full funding.

The nation’s second largest public pension fund, with assets valued at $131 billion at the end of January, began to consider the issue last month and may act in September or even sooner.

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Steve Cooley

Troy Anderson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/04/2010 08:44:56 PM PST

Describing the actions of the Los Angeles County district attorney as “striking and rampant,” a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering Steve Cooley to stop discriminating and retaliating against employees on the basis of their union membership, officials said.

U.S. District Court Judge Otis D. Wright II wrote the allegations made by the prosecutors union in a lawsuit are “largely undisputed,” noting Cooley’s lawyers didn’t deny that Cooley instructed Training Division Assistant Head Deputy Robert Dver to “undermine” the Association of Deputy District Attorneys.

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